A parent rushes their pre-school age child to the emergency department with an asthma exacerbation.
Which additional finding should alert the nurse that the child is in acute respiratory distress?

The correct answer is choice A. Manual resuscitation bag and B. An advanced airway kit.

Choice A rationale:

A manual resuscitation bag is essential in pediatric emergencies to provide immediate ventilation support if the child experiences respiratory failure or arrest. This device allows healthcare providers to manually deliver breaths to the patient, ensuring adequate oxygenation and ventilation until more advanced airway management can be established.

Choice B rationale:

An advanced airway kit is crucial for managing a difficult airway, especially in pediatric patients who may have anatomical differences making intubation challenging. This kit typically includes tools for endotracheal intubation, laryngeal mask airways, and other devices to secure the airway and ensure the child can breathe effectively.

Choice C rationale:

A dose of subcutaneous epinephrine is primarily used for treating severe allergic reactions or anaphylaxis. While it is a critical medication in emergencies involving anaphylaxis, it is not directly related to the immediate need for airway management and ventilation in this scenario.

Choice D rationale:

The child’s favorite toy can be helpful in calming and distracting the child during medical procedures, reducing anxiety and making the experience less traumatic. However, it is not a medical necessity for the placement of an intravenous line or for managing respiratory distress.

Choice E rationale:

Nebulized albuterol is used to treat bronchospasm and wheezing, commonly seen in asthma or reactive airway disease. While it is an important medication for managing respiratory symptoms, it does not address the immediate need for airway management and ventilation support in a critical situation.

The correct answer is **d. Monitor the infant for response to auditory stimuli**.

Choice A rationale:

Drawing an antibiotic trough level within 3 days is not a necessary action after a 14-day antibiotic treatment for bacterial meningitis in an infant. Trough levels are typically monitored during the course of treatment to ensure appropriate dosing, not after completion of therapy.

Choice B rationale:

Administering antipyretic medication continuously is not recommended after the completion of antibiotic treatment for bacterial meningitis. Fever is a common symptom during the acute phase of the illness, and the need for antipyretics should decrease as the infection is resolved.

Choice C rationale:

Continuing strict monitoring of daily wet diapers for 1 week is not a necessary action after the completion of antibiotic treatment for bacterial meningitis. Monitoring fluid intake and output is important during the acute phase of the illness, but not necessarily after the infant has completed the full course of antibiotics.

Choice D rationale:

Monitoring the infant for response to auditory stimuli is an important action to include when preparing the family for discharge after a 14-day antibiotic treatment for bacterial meningitis. Hearing loss is a potential complication of bacterial meningitis, and the infant should be evaluated for any hearing impairment before being discharged from the hospital.